The Lewis Center is pleased to announce that Professor Paul M. Ong of the Department of Asian American Studies and Urban Planning is the 2011-12 recipient of the C. Doris and Toshio Hoshide Distinguished Teaching Prize in Asian American Studies at UCLA.
Professor Ong received his B.A. from the University of California, Davis, a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Washington, and the Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. A prolific scholar, Professor Ong has authored or edited 9 books and published over 70 journal articles and papers, including the influential and often-cited State of Asian American series of policy-related studies for which he served as Research Director. Professor Ong has taught key service courses for both Asian American Studies and Urban Planning at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In particular, Professor Ong has offered courses that are multidisciplinary and that are engaged with community-based research. He has provided tremendous service and leadership for the UCLA campus, including directing the Lewis Center and for many years chairing the Center’s Faculty Advisory Committee.
Colleagues and students enthusiastically endorsed Professor Ong for the award, and a faculty colleague stated, “Professor Ong has developed through designing and teaching various courses … a set of ideas that effectively capture and articulate the core concerns that both shaped Asian American Studies traditionally and open up new possibilities for the challenges that we face in the field today: multidisciplinarity, diversity, and engaged scholarship.” One student commented: “Professor Ong is a caring teacher and mentor who believe in his students and their capability for achieving more than they believe of in themselves. Through his guidance, he pushes students to challenge themselves, providing advice when needed but also allowing students to be independent in their decision-making.” Another student noted, “What I admire most about Professor Ong is his dedication and commitment to improving the living and economic conditions of underrepresented communities. Throughout most of his life, Professor Ong has conducted extensive research on issues confronting low income and immigrant communities. The results of his research have helped to create and change policies. Professor Ong is a humble person with a gentle soul and also intellectually and politically daring.”
The late C. Doris Hoshide, Class of 1934, of Rockville, MD established the teaching prize to annually recognize an outstanding professor in Asian American Studies. She was a longtime supporter of Asian American Studies at her alma mater. The Hoshide Prize includes a one thousand dollar award.
Please join us in congratulating Professor Paul Ong!